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Glite Dictionary
scintillating scotoma

scintillating scotoma

9.9
A flashing bright shape that blocks part of your vision before a migraine
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪntɪˌleɪtɪŋ skəˈtoʊmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : escotoma centelleante
  • A scintillating scotoma often appears as a shimmering zigzag pattern in the vision before a migraine headache.

Examples

  • She experienced a scintillating scotoma before her migraine started.

  • Many patients report seeing a scintillating scotoma shortly before experiencing any pain.

  • If you notice a scintillating scotoma, it's best to avoid bright lights and rest in a quiet place.

  • Is a scintillating scotoma always a sign of a migraine?

  • A scintillating scotoma often appears as a shimmering zigzag pattern in the vision before a migraine headache.

  • If you notice a scintillating scotoma, it's best to avoid bright lights and rest in a quiet place.

  • Many patients report seeing a scintillating scotoma shortly before experiencing any pain.

Synonyms

scotoma
vsscintillating scotoma
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A blind spot in your vision

includes nearby flashing lights and usually signals migraine onset
flittering scotoma
vsscintillating scotoma
  • Specialized
9.9

A small area where your vision becomes weak with flickering coloured lights, often before a migraine

describes the same vision loss but with noncolored flashing or shimmering lights

Antonyms

sightedness
3 7.2

Ability to see clearly without problems

clear-sighted
4.7

A person or animal that can see clearly, even far away

Surface Forms

scintillating scotoma singular
scintillating scotomas plural

Morphology

scintillate + scotoma

The phrase is fully compositional: 'scintillate' means to give off flashing lights and 'scotoma' denotes a localized loss of vision, so a 'scintillating scotoma' is predictably a scotoma accompanied by flashes. Although it is a technical medical term, the adjective+noun combination follows normal English patterns, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Scintillating scotoma comes from the words scintillating ('sparkling') and scotoma ('blind spot'), creating the picture of a bright, flashing area that hides part of your sight. That's why the term describes the shimmering zigzag or flashing patch people often see before a 'migraine'.